Sunday, March 4, 2018

After the end of the WPT L.A. Poker Classic Championship a few days ago, eyes are now set on Thunder Valley Casino Resort which is hosting the WPT Rolling Thunder poker festival. The $3,500 Main Event is in full swing at the host venue and the entries from the two starting flights are set to enter into Day 2 of action later today.

Day 1B of the tournament was played yesterday at the casino resort. As many as 251 entries joined the field through the second starting flight. Combined with the 132 contenders from Day 1A, the overall field was brought to 383 entries. Of them, 212 made it through their respective starting flights and are ready for Day 2 play.

Registration for the event will remain open until early on Day 2, which means that the field and the prize pool with it are only poised to grow. Organizers will announce the prize pool and the places paid once registration for the major tournament closes.

While the event may have attracted some of the most popular poker pros in the world, it is a player with a poker bankroll of $55,000 who is leading the pack of survivors into Day 2 action.

Dean Freedlander Ends Day 1B as Chip Leader

Freedlander bagged and tagged 163,900 in chips last night to secure his spot as a Day 2 start-of-the-day chip leader. The player has not cashed from the WPT Main Tour series so far, but is determined to make it to the money in the Rolling Thunder Main Event.

Freedlander is a psychiatrist, which he told WPT staff has been helping him make pretty good reads. The Day 1B chip leader described his style at the poker table very “solid”. The player went on to say that he usually plays really tight and this makes his bluffs work.

Over the course of Day 1B, Freedlander clashed against reigning WPT Player of the Year Benjamin Zamani, who is an opponent feared by many. Freedlander said that Zamani was a really tough player, but he managed to beat him in a couple of hands. Zamani then steered away from the overnight chip leader.

Three-time WPT Main Tour champion Anthony Zinno is also among the notables in contention. The player bagged 131,500 in chips at the end of Day 1B and will enter Day 2 with one of the largest stacks. Zinno is going for a record fourth title. The player came into the Rolling Thunder tournament fresh from an eight-place finish in the WPT L.A. Poker Classic $10,000 Championship.

Popular poker pro Ari Engel also made it to the end of Day 1B with a big stack. He will resume play later today with a total of 123,900. Players are set to return at the host venue at noon local time. They will play eight levels before packing for the day.